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Forget sweaty backs – there's a better way to carry stuff by bike
February 7, 2025
In Britain, we cyclists might love our bikes, but when it comes to practical accessories, we’re oddly resistant. Mudguards? Too sensible. A centre stand? Who needs one? Panniers? Forget it - most people would rather lug a sweaty backpack or, worse, dangle a plastic bag from their handlebars like a chaotic wind sock.
Which is where the Bikezac comes in. This Danish-designed bag is the lovechild of a pannier and a shopping tote. It clicks onto a pannier rack in seconds, turning into a sturdy, practical carrier that won’t throw you off balance or leave a sweat patch on your back. And in true Scandinavian style, it’s got a minimalist look - no logos, no fuss, just function.
It’s also made from 100% recycled polypropylene rice sacks, which means it’s not just useful, but repurposing waste. The handles, the thread, the whole thing - all saved from landfill.
Compared to a backpack, a pannier makes life easier: no sweaty back, better bike handling, and your cargo stays put rather than swaying alarmingly at every turn. It’s a small shift, but the kind of change that makes cycling that little bit more convenient - something we are all for if it helps encourage more people onto two wheels.
Win a set of Bikezac pannier bags
Fancy a set for yourself? Leave a comment below, and we’ll pick a winner next week.
Why do we forgo practical bike accessories?
Maybe it’s the influence of sport cycling, where weight is everything and mudguards are considered an insult to aerodynamics and racing lines. Maybe it’s because British bike shops push glamourous-looking mountain bikes over more staid-looking town bikes. Or maybe we’ve just been conditioned to think of cycling as something you endure - drenched, overloaded, and slightly off-balance - rather than a way to get around that can be both practical and fun. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: bikes that are less useful than they could be.
Bicycle breakdowns
It's an unfortunate fact of life; bicycles can break down. Even the shortest journey comes to an abrupt halt if you can't fix a flat tyre, broken chain or buckled wheel at the roadside. It's why over 30 years ago we launched Cycle Rescue - the UK's first breakdown cover for bicycles.
ETA Cycle Rescue covers e-bikes, too. If you ride a road-legal electric bicycle, we’ll cover it against mechanical faults, punctures or a flat battery.
How does Cycle Rescue cover work?
If you suffer a breakdown (including punctures, or even a flat e-bike battery) while out cycling, or are unable to continue due to an injury, our 24-hour Cycle Rescue team is on hand to arrange transport for you and your bicycle to a safe location.
Cycle Rescue costs only £24 per year with no hidden extras to pay if your bicycle suffers a breakdown.
Get Cycle Rescue for free when you buy ETA bicycle insurance
Every cycle insurance policy of ours includes the following as standard:
• Theft, accidental damage & vandalism
• E-bike battery theft cover
• Cycle Rescue
• No devaluation of your bike over time
• £2m third party PLUS £20,000 personal accident cover
• Shed and garage storage
• Low standard excess of 5% (£50 minimum)
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.
Information correct at time of publication.
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